paused.

He knew that he was reported to be in league with the party who were
aiming to form an empire in Mexico, and thence to extend the
monarchical form of government over the New World. It was a harmless,
in some respects, an honorable reputation to have, that of being an
agent for establishing a monarchy in the Southern States of the Union.
Crutius sat for some time in silence, eyeing the figure before him with
a keen and smiling glance. At last he said:--

"I am no longer of that opinion. The indifference of the better classes
in America has ceased, as is evident from the papers as well as from
the public meetings. I have also seen some letters written to Herr
Weidmann by his nephew Dr. Fritz, which plainly prove that a change for
the better has taken place. All feel again their rights as citizens,
and political and party strife is everywhere uppermost."

"Ah, Herr Weidmann," said Sonnenkamp; "I am told that that worthy
gentleman has a share in your paper."

"I know no man; I know nothing but party."

"The true American principle. That is good!" exclaimed Sonnenkamp, and
went on to express, in a friendly tone, the regret that all must feel
at seeing the press here so far behind the high standard attained in
other countries. For that reason he should be very willing, he said, if
a man of the Professor's experience would establish a new journal, to
come forward to its support with a considerable sum of money, as well
as to communicate important items of intelligence from his private
correspondence.

"The matter is worth considering," replied Crutius. He went to his
strong box and opened it, evidently with the intention of returning to
Sonnenkamp the money he had formerly received from him, but saying,
almost in so many words, to himself:--No, not yet; you shall have a
public receipt for it by and by,--he closed the box, and, resuming his
seat opposite Sonnenkamp, began:--

"I have an apology to make to you; at the time I had the honor of
visiting you at your villa, I took you to be the notorious Banfield."

He carefully watched the expression of his visitor's face as he spoke.

"Thank you for telling me so," replied Sonnenkamp, very tranquilly.
"The only way to clear up such a misunderstanding is to tell it to a
man's face. Unfortunately, I have been often confounded with that man,
and once actually went to Virginia in order to become personally
acquainted with this double of mine; but he died just as I ar